Research Project
6829669
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging is a technology that permits tomographic visualization of a cross section through the vessel wall. Its development has provided a powerful new method to assess plaque morphology in vivo. However, while new catheter designs are markedly improved on their predecessors, image quality has not seen significant gains due to the primitive nature of the ultrasound transducer designs. Increasing the frequency of the transducer above the current state-of-the-art 40MHz holds the potential to improve image quality although higher frequencies are attenuated rapidly in biological media and the depth of penetration is therefore reduced. One possible method of enhancing the quality of IVUS images may be to exploit the effect of nonlinear propagation (harmonic imaging) of the ultrasound signal as it passes through the tissue. Despite the fact that harmonic imaging is now becoming a standard modality in the latest commercial B-mode ultrasound scanners with a frequency range up to 4.0 MHz, there is no evidence of attempts to develop a harmonic imaging system for significantly higher frequencies, which would be suitable for intravascular applications. In this application we propose to investigate the generation of tissue harmonics at high fundamental frequencies (20 - 40MHz) suitable for intravascular application. This will be pioneering work in the field of medical acoustics. The major driving force for our project will be clinical necessity. We envisage that the implementation of high frequency harmonic imaging will dramatically improve image quality and allow better delineation of plaque geometry and composition. High frequency ultrasound transducers will be designed and built comprising traditional ceramic materials and novel polymeric devices fabricated using MEMS technology. Finally advanced signal processing methods will be designed and developed to accurately predict plaque composition from high frequency nonlinear acoustic data.
